Rutherford: Red Cliffs expansion bill is not the answer

Congressman Stewart’s H.R.5597 (congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5597/text) – Habitat Expansion Act - appears to improve the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve and Red Cliffs NCA (National Conservation Area) by adding a new zone (Zone 6). But, with that “improvement” comes this dangerous change: pierce the heart of the Reserve and NCA by building a road – the Northern Corridor (aka Washington Parkway) and threatening the area’s viability. The Reserve/NCA was established to protect threatened and endangered species – in particular, the Mojave desert tortoise – no new roads allowed.

Much of Zone 6 west of Bloomington and Sunbrook is owned by SITLA (School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration). Zone 6 is bordered on the west by the proposed Western Corridor, which may present its own development pressures for that zone.

Currently there is no defined budget for managing Zone 6. Already, pressures due to human activity in the existing Reserve including Snow Canyon State Park are exceeding the county’s and other agencies’ abilities to control, requiring additional expenditures. Garbage resulting from human activity in Reserve areas draws predators that harm young tortoises, while visitors let dogs run loose, apparently unaware they can damage tortoises or cause them to void precious water resources.

If Zone 6 is so rich in tortoises, as asserted, why wasn’t it included in the Reserve when established? Approximately 30% of the tortoise recently observed in Zone 6 were juveniles. 70% were adults. The desert tortoise (USFWS 2011 Desert Tortoise Recovery Plan) requires 13 to 20 years to reach sexual maturity and has low reproductive rates. They live 50-80 years. It seems clear that the area should have been included in the Upper Virgin River Recovery Unit.

Why not keep Zone 6 to protect it but not in trade for a road in Zone 3? The proposed $110 million road will not solve Washington County’s transportation problems. Anyone who looks at the master road plans can see that the Southern Corridor and Western Corridor are far from St. George’s city center. Not so for the proposed Northern Corridor which is barely outside St. George’s city center.

Proponents assert the road has been planned for decades. Early Habitat Conservation Advisory Conservation meeting minutes counter that. Roads were discussed but only existing roads – not new.

Stewart’s H.R. 5597 creates a problem for all NCAs in this nation. If the rules that protect NCAs can be overrun in Washington County by the stroke of a D.C. pen, what’s to happen elsewhere in these important areas?

How do residents feel about the road? A survey done in the mid-90s showed strong support for the nascent Reserve. This year’s Transportation Expo comments revealed strong support for protecting the Reserve/RCNCA and not building a road through it. There were very few comments in support of the road. A March, 2018, online poll by a local paper revealed that 75% of those who responded oppose the idea of a road through the Reserve and RCNCA. (http://suindependent.com/poll-northern-corridor-washington-parkway-constructed/)

Southern Utah’s leaders should heed warnings from other fast-growing areas like Fort Collins, Colorado: “Building six lanes in both directions, at some point you have the same congestion as you did with two lanes. Now all you have is 12 crowded lanes rather than four.” Additionally, “It’s not importing jobs; it’s importing growth.” (hcn.org/articles/the-montana-gap-has-fort-collins-grown-too-big-too-fast)

Citizens’ comments regarding H.R. 5597 should go to naturalresources.house.gov/federallands/, the committee likely to have a hearing.